NASA's trailblazing generation

NASA's Class of 1978, 'represent the most competent, talented, and experienced people available to us today.' The first six women in newly issued, incompletely adorned astronaut jumpsuits, 1978: (front, left to right) Sally Ride, Rhea Seddon; (rear) Kathy Sullivan, Shannon Lucid, Anna Fisher, Judy Resnik. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Smithsonian Books. Out October 28 and available wherever books are sold. Members of the media peppered administrator Robert Frosch with questions and sought assurances about the selection process, the number of women and people of color, and the number of military and civilian pilots selected. Chris Kraft, director of the Johnson Space Center, fielded questions and explained the experience-based filters and rating process for competitive selection. He was satisfied that the men and women selected "represent the most competent, talented, and experienced people available to us today." The main press conference to introduce the new astronaut candidates to the public occurred on January 31.